The speedometer of the Morgan Super 3 hit 130mph. Suddenly the sports car flipped and slid along the track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome. And although Freddie Flintoff was wearing a helmet, he suffered serious facial injuries and broken ribs.

The accident took place in December 2022 while the former England cricket star was filming an episode of Top Gear. In a video recorded a few weeks later he said: "I need help... I need to stop crying every two minutes. I genuinely should not be here after what happened. It's going to be a long road back and I've only just started."

But, he added: "I've got to look at the positives, I've got another chance, and I'm going to go at it. I'm seeing that as how it is - a second go."

Now, though he still suffers from flashbacks and nightmares from the crash, he is about to talk about it in detail for a Disney+ documentary.

At the time of the crash Flintoff had presented the first series of Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams. And although the second series had to be postponed while he was recovering, he was determined to go through with it.

The programme involved taking young people from his home town, Preston, and making them into a cricket team - even though many of them had never played the game before and some had autismA condition characterised by difficulty in social interaction and communication. According to the World Health Organisation, 1 in 160 children has an autism disorder. and ADHDAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a mental health condition that can cause above-normal levels of energetic and impulsive behaviours.. His aim was to show that belonging to a team can help people realise their potential in life.

In the series filmed after his crash, On Tour, Flintoff took his players to India. There they learned to cope with an unfamiliar environment and opened up about their problems - as did he.

After defeat in their final match, Flintoff gathered the team for a talk. "We've won games and we've celebrated," he said, "and today we've lost. But from the losses you learn more...

"The biggest win on this trip hasn't been cricket - it's been you guys."

The players confirmed that. "'Knowing the lads before and knowing them after, the change is remarkable," said Finn, who has autism. "We are all totally different people."

Since the series, Finn has found the courage to apply to join the army. Ben, who was homeless in his teens and suffered from depressionLow mood that affects someone's daily life, and can last for weeks or months., is training to become a teacher.

And Adnan, an asylum seekerA person who has left their country due to danger and is seeking refuge elsewhere. from AfghanistanA mountainous Asian country, slightly larger than France, whose neighbours include Pakistan, Iran and China., has won a place in Lancashire's under-18 cricket team. 

Are setbacks the best teacher?

Yes: Until you suffer a setback you can think that everything is easy. Having to cope with one makes you focus on what you have done wrong and find the resilience to learn your lesson and move forward.

No: They result in discouragement and depression which many people cannot overcome. You can learn far better in a stable environment with encouragement which helps you realise your potential.

Or... They are effective teachers, but only in moderation. There is a limit to the disappointments that one person can handle - if you have too many you can reach a point of no return.